Environment
Scientists will close an Antarctic research centre next year over fears the ice beneath it will CRACK
Scientists will close an Antarctic research centre next year over fears the ice beneath it will CRACK. The British Antarctic Survey's (BAS) Halley VI Research Station is situated on a floating 150m thick ice shelf which has split twice in the last 12 months. The crack is caused by a movement of a chasm in the Brunt Ice Shelf, which had previously been dormant for around 35 years, but is now extending eastwards. The British Antarctic Survey's (BAS) Halley VI...
In Pics – Grizzly poised for fish is one entry to Wonders of Wildlife international picture competition
With its jaws open wide, this Grizzly bear is just waiting for a leaping salmon to jump right in for a fish supper. Taken by British snapper Nick Dale, the picture was highly commended in the Wonders of Wildlife photographic competition. 1st prize zebras at dawn by Malcolm Blackburn. Nick, from London, who became a professional photographer in 2013, said: "The annual salmon migration is practically an all-you-can-eat buffet for bears in Alaska. "The journey upstream sometimes covers hundreds of...
Global warming? Spring daffodils blooming just as winter arrives
A patch of daffodil appear to be in a muddle - after blooming just as winter begins. Susanne Turner, 58, was shocked when the perennials which usually signal the start of the spring decided to come out in a flowerbed beside her house. And despite the bizarre blossoming, the amateur horticulturalist Susanne still has no idea how they flowered in October. Susanne Turner with her daffodils that have flowered in October. The former bank employee said she planted about 30...
Green campaigner is facing up to two years in jail for direct action against tree felling
A green campaigner is facing up to two years in jail after he was found in contempt of court for breaching an injunction to prevent direct action against tree felling. Activist Calvin Payne posted a message on Facebook this month encouraging "as many people as possible" to break the injunction. The post was part of a city-wide campaign to prevent felling which has seen more than 5,000 trees cut down as part of a 25-year highways maintenance contract between a...
Rural homes in England set to be heated by…vegetable oil
Rural homes could be heated by recycled cooking oil within the next five years, according to a new report. More than 1.1 millions properties on the national gas grid could have their supply replaced with cheaper and more efficient alternative, according to Oftec. The trade association for the oil and heating industry says the green ‘biofuel’ could play an big role in reducing carbon emissions and provide a long term, sustainable solution for rural heating. Workman works on changing a...
Arm yourself – there is a new war, and we’re losing it
Arm yourself. There is a war raging across our information systems. Whilst no bombs are being dropped, the impacts of this war will have far reaching consequences. At the same time Donald Trump was elected president of the United States of America, 2016 witnessed the rise of populist and extremist movements all over the globe. The success of many of these causes, groups and individuals came as an unexpected surprise, even a shock. Many asked ‘how could this happen?’ In...
Nearly half of Londoners are worried about living in city due to air pollution
Londoners welcome T-Charge, as BHF warns of dangers of air pollution for capital’s heart health Nearly half (45%) of Londoners are worried about living in the city due to dangerous levels of air pollution, according to a new poll from the British Heart Foundation (BHF). The statistics reveal that 81% of Londoners believe the current air pollution levels are putting their health at risk and over a third are put off running (37%) or cycling (38%) in the city because...
Pollution kills more than 50,000 people in Britain every year
Pollution is killing over 50,000 Britons and nine million across the globe each year. Pollution has been blamed on killing 50,235 or 8.30 per cent of all UK deaths in 2015. Overall the rate of death attributable to pollution in the UK was 78.68 per 100,000 deaths. Most of these deaths are due to non-communicable diseases caused by pollution such as heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Yet the toll is greatest in poor and...
Petals produce a ‘blue halo’ that helps bees find flowers
Petals produce a 'blue halo' that helps bees find flowers, reveals a new study. Researchers found that several common flower species have nanoscale ridges on the surface of their petals that meddle with light when viewed from certain angles. The nanostructures scatter light particles in the blue to ultraviolet colour spectrum, generating a subtle effect that scientists have labelled the 'blue halo'. Ursinia speciosa is a member of the Daisy family. The region at the base of the petals contains...